Pop Svengali, Bruno Mars makes the shift towards a complete R&B sound in his third, very short, studio album 24K Magic. Mars claimed he had initially wanted to make a movie and 24K Magic was to be the vehicle through which the mood and time were set for the narrative. This film never came into fruition and what we are left with is a 33-minute album consisting of nine tracks sounding very similar to existing songs from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
If original content is your shtick, then this album isn’t for you. Chock full of references from artists like New Edition, Silk, The Gap Band (Mars even sings Charlie Wilson’s signature “ooh wee’s”), H-Town and Tevin Campbell, it comes as no surprise that Mars teamed with Babyface (former frontman of The Deele) to collaborate on Too Good To Say Goodbye.
Bruno Mars did state that another inspiration for the album was to get people up and dancing, which many of these songs are good for. Title track 24K Magic takes the cake for most danceable song. Mars’ signature falsetto vocals take a punchier turn and are laced with auto-tuned harmonies that are married nicely within the bold, toe tapping, syncopated beats. Perm is the funkiest track, rich with James Brown hi-hat grooves (think Get Up Offa That Thing). This is the kind of album that makes for great concert performances and fun, enjoyable radio play.
By Tamara Vogl
